While it is generally assumed that alcohol consumption plays some role in the advent of negative sexual outcomes among college students (sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies, and date rape), that role has not been empirically demonstrated or quantified. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of alcohol consumption with negative sexual outcomes in college women. Specifically, this study attempted to determine this association by means of a survey administered to a population of women students from Oregon State University and Western Oregon State College (n =430). Data collection took place during winter term, 1991. Average monthly alcohol consumption was assessed, as well as the frequency of alcohol consumption prior to sexual intercourse. The association of alcohol consumption with experiences of sexual coercion, in both the victim and the perpetrator, was also assessed. Negative sexual outcomes assessed were sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unplanned pregnancies and pregnancy "scares", four categories of sexual coercion (unwanted touching, verbally forced date rape, physically forced date rape, and stranger rape), and unprotected intercourse (condom usage). A strong association between alcohol consumption and sexual coercion was found. Women who had experienced sexual coercion consumed significantly more alcohol on the average than those who had not had such experience. Also, it was found that alcohol was consumed by the perpetrator, the victim, or both in the majority (57-69%) of incidents of sexual coercion. While women who had experienced STDs appeared to drink more (mean monthly alcohol consumption= 16.9 drinks) than those who had not experienced STDs (mean monthly alcohol consumption= 12.3 drinks), small cell size and sample variability made meaningful statistical comparisons inappropriate. No association between alcohol consumption and unplanned pregnancies and pregnancy "scares" was found. Alcohol consumption prior to intercourse had a paradoxical relationship with both sexually transmitted diseases and condom usage: those who always or never drink prior to intercourse were less likely to experience an STD and more likely to use condoms than those who say they occasionally drink prior to intercourse. It is recommended that university health educators disseminate the findings on alcohol consumption and sexual coercion and STDs. It is also suggested that they, along with those responsible for student services and university policies, should encourage non-alcoholic forms of social support, stress management, and recreation on campus. An additional recommendation was that both qualitative research and longitudinal studies be done to follow up the exploration begun in this study. / Graduation date: 1992

This thesis interprets student culture as a vehicle to understanding college drinking. It presents the findings of an ethnographic study of college drinking culture as experienced by college women. Particular emphasis is placed on age and gender variations within the student culture which significantly impact drinking beliefs and behavior. The subject of this study is the meanings of drinking in student culture. The findings suggest that university alcohol policy should speak to and from student culture, rather than to and from university administrative values. Based on the meanings of drinking in student culture, suggestions are made toward formulating a more effective university alcohol policy. / Department of Anthropology